Having dedicated 24 years to military service, I have never witnessed the world appear more fractious or perilous than it does today. In this challenging geopolitical landscape, our government remains unwavering in its commitment to the security and prosperity of the United Kingdom. These two objectives are deeply intertwined, with a key element being the new and crucial partnership with Britain's five million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs form the backbone of our economy. From local breweries like Attic Brew Co to major manufacturers like Cadbury- both in my own constituency of Birmingham Selly Oak- they provide the jobs, growth, and grassroots understanding that are essential for our nation's prosperity. Now, more than ever, their role is critical. As we make substantial new investments in our national defence, we recognise that it is the ingenuity of our SMEs that will provide us with a strategic edge.
We are undertaking a significant renewal of our defence capabilities, investing over £15 billion in our new nuclear submarine programme- creating 30,000 jobs- and up to £4 billion in future technologies like drones and laser systems. This initiative is not just about large contracts for big companies. We understand that the cutting edge of technology and the most innovative, out-of-the-box thinking often emerge from smaller organisations that can operate more nimbly than the big primes. Harnessing this power is central to our mission.
We must acknowledge that in the past, the defence sector has often been a challenging partner for SMEs. Bureaucracy and complex financing have exhausted or alienated the very innovators we need most. We are committed to changing that.
Our new Strategic Defence Review places partnership with industry at its core- it is the focus of the first hundred pages. Our future Defence Industrial Strategy will build on this, aiming to make the Ministry of Defence a far more cooperative, collaborative, and engaging partner for businesses of all sizes. We are designing new mechanisms to make engaging with defence more advantageous for SMEs.
This represents a fundamental shift. We are rebuilding our defence industrial sector by transforming our relationship with the innovators who power it. Our goal is to ensure that our outstanding men and women in the Armed Forces receive the best equipment in the world to defend our nation. To achieve this, we must leverage the unique and remarkable innovation that arises from combining the agility of SMEs with the scale of our major industries. This new partnership is essential for our security and prosperity.
Alistair Scott Carns, DSO, OBE, MC, MP, Minister of Veterans and People
